Combination lttnch-box and table



H. C. OTTESON,

COMBINATION LUNCH BOX AND TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,!91B.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETSSH EET l.

H. C. OTTESON.

COMBINATION LUNCH BOX AND TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21, 1918.

1 25,371 a Patented Dec. 16,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

HENRY C. OTTESON, 0F CALVIN, NORTH DAKOTA.

I COMBINATION LUNCH-BOX AND TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1918. Serial No. 225,063.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. OTTESON, a citizen of the United States of America,

"residing at Calvin, in the county of Cavalier and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination Lunch-Boxes'and Tables, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention comprehends generally improvements in. that class of inventions known as furniture and more particularly has reference to a combination lunch box and table.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character designed for use especially by autoists, travelers, salesmen, etc., and is capable of being readily extended without removing the contents from the interior thereof or else folded into a compact portable form.

As an addi ional object the present invention embraces the provision of a device of the above mentioned character wherein improved means is employed for operably connecting the legs to the main section so that the. legs may readily be folded against the said main section or else extended so as to su port the device when used as a table. It is a further object of this invention to provide improved cooperative means for retaining the top sections of the device in a closed position so as to consequently prevent accidental displacement of the contents,

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character'which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in its purpose and inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter set forth.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, the combination of elements and the arrangements of parts.

which-will be exemplified in the construc tion hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated a in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device arranged in an extended osition;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is' a cross section of the device when in a closed position;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

"when not in use.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the leg connection.

Fig. 6 is adetail sectional view showing the swinging or hinge connection between the sides and bottom and sides and tops of the device.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all the above described views, to-

indicate corresponding parts.

Referrmg now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings, there is provided.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

top of the table when the device is arranged in an extended position as indicated in the drawings. Side sections 2 are now employed and are swingingly connected to the lon itudinal side edges of the main section 1 t rough the instrumentality of the improved hinge indicated in its entirety by the numeral 3. In the present instance the hinge consists of a plurality of U-shaped clips 4 which are straddled about the adjacent longitudinal edges of the main and side sections being secured thereto by rivets 5 in such a manner that the intermediate portions are spacedfrom the adjacent edges of the sections leaving openings 6 therebetween. When the side sections are arranged in close relation with the main section the openings 6 are alined while a retaining pintle or rod 7 is arranged through the alinmg openings so as to normally maintain the sections in order that they mav swing with respect to each other. This rod, however, may be removed when it is desired to .place the entire device in a small compact form Top sections 8 are now employed and are swingingly connected to the outer longitudinal edges of the side sections 2 through the instrumenta'lity of hinges 9 similar in construction to the hinges 3. End sections 10 are now employed while a plurality of pins 11 project from the edges thereof and are designed for removable engagement with the correspondingly formed sockets 12 in the sections 2 and 8. Suitable (-lasps 12 are mounted on the top sections adjacent the meeting edges thereoffor removably holding the sections in a closed position as indicated in the drawings. Handles 13 are mounted on the outer. faces of the enil sections 10 and render the device portab e.

' i In order that the device may be extended and serve as a table the clasps are unfastened and the sections 2 and 3 extended outwardly while stops 14 are pivotally mounted on the under surface of the main section adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof and on the outer surface of the side sections 2 near the outer longitudinal edge thereof. These stops are designed so that they may be swung to engage the outer surface of the adjacent sections 2 and 8 respectively soas to prevent the sections from collapsing. When the sections 2 and 3 are arranged in the same plane as the section 1 the table top is formed.

A plurality of legs 15 are now provided and are swingingly connected to the under sur-' face of the main section adjacent the corners thereof through the instrumentality of the improved hinge which is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 16. Each hinge consists of a pair of leaves 17 and 18 formed on the adjacent edges with complemental ears 19 which are engaged by a pintle 20. The section 17 is secured to the under surface of the main section by fasteners 21 while each leaf 18 is ivoted to the upper end of the adjacent leg by means of a pintle 22. Each leaf 18 is also formed with an arcuate slot 23 adjacent the outer edge thereof while anchored in the leg and operating through the slot is a pin 24. By this arrangement it is apparent that owing to the pivotal connection between the leaves the legs may be normally folded to lie adjacent the undersurface of the main section 1 or else the legs may be swung outwardly and subsequently swung laterally until the pin 24 engages the adjacent end of the slot 23 to limit the movement thereof.

In order to brace the legs braces 25 have their inner ends normally connected as at 26 to the legs while the outer ends are designed for engagement with sockets 27 formed in the under surface of the main section 1. When not in use, or when collapsing the device, the braces 25 may be accommodated within the slot 28 formed in the adjacent leg. In further bracing the leg and the sections 2 when extended other braces 29 are swingingly connected as at 30 to the legs adjacent the outer ends thereof while the free ends of the braces 29 are designed for engagement with sockets 31 formed in the outer faces of the sections 2. When not in use, these braces lie within the grooves 32 in the face of the adjacent leg. Suitable fasteners 33 may be employed for retaining the legs against accidental movement when the device is in a folded osition.

It is believed that in view of t e foregoing description, a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is entirely unnecessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent. However, attention is especially directedto the fact that the device embodying the present construction may be readily adapted for use by salesmen in carrying and displaying their wares and may also be used by persons on picnics, etc.

As many changes could'be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, and it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claim is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention which is here described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is A device of the character described embodying a main section, side sections swingingly connected to the main section on opposite longitudinal edges thereof, other sections swingingly attached to the said side sections at their outer longitudinal edges, stops secured to the side sections and engageable with the said other or outer sections for limiting them in their swinging movement to the plane of the said side sections, hinge elements consisting of swingingly connected leaves one of each of which is secured on the underface of the main section, a leg pivotally attached to the other leaf of each hinge member and carrying a pin playing in an arcuate slot formed, in said leaf whereby the said legs may be swung into substantial perpendicularity with the side edges of the said main section or swung to position where the legs on the opposite side of said main section will diverge, braces connecting with the main section and with the legs to preclude relative movement between the leaves of the hinge members, and other braces connecting with the said side members and with the said legs to support the said side section in a plane with the said main section.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY C. OTTESON. V 

